Brussels Declaration on ‘European House for Culture’ concluded EFA/ISPA Conference The international Conference on ‘Cultural Networks at Work’ organised by EFA (European Festivals Association) and ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts), in cooperation with the Flemish Radio Orchestra, the Flanders Festivals and the Festival de Wallonie in Brussels on 8 June 2007 was a remarkable success. The EFA and ISPA Brussels Declaration on the intention to build up a ‘European House for Culture’ in Brussels is but the most striking result presented to the concluding plenary. Held in the premises of the Flagey, an international multicultural arts centre, the gathering brought together 345 arts professionals including 40 cultural networks, European festival managers and arts professionals from altogether 50 countries. Intense discussions on various aspects of a ‘network’s work’, together with the diversity of individuals involved in the working sessions and the variety of backgrounds among the participants enabled encouraging encounters and a melting of ideas and projects. The day concluded with the remarkable confirmation pointing out that cultural networks, in order to weigh upon decision making processes at a European level, need to intensify collaborative measures and activities. “The House for Culture is in this respect an expression to further collaboration and synergies within the cultural and arts sector by creating a meeting-place, a reference point, an embassy, an interlocutor, a lobbing constitution primarily for cultural networks in Brussels and for those with an interest in the EU-decision making process in the field of culture”, according to the declaration’s wording. The House for Culture will offer a home to cultural networks and initiatives in order to stimulate dialogue within the sector but also between the arts and culture on the one and politics on the other hand. “A lot of sectors have their lobbying house, a constituency in Brussels where they organize themselves in a very efficient way – the arts and culture do not, yet!”, as Hugo De Greef, EFA Secretary General and initiator of the idea, puts the need to join forces in the cultural sector. The House will become reality at the beginning of 2008. All relevant documents are available on the Conference website at www.efa-aef.eu/CNaW. Concluding reports will be posted soon.